Monday we went to Dallas. Neil’s mom – Mindy, and sister – Amy also went with us. It was a FAST trip but it was alot of fun. We left OKC around 11:30 and met up at Grapevine Mills Mall in Dallas. We did some shopping and then ate at the Rainforest Cafe.

Rainforest Cafe was a lot of fun for us and for the boys. They were AWESOME regarding Chase’s food limitations. They didn’t have a GFCF menu but the waiter was great and was able to ask them to grill Chase a chicken breast with nothing on it, and to cook him some fries in fresh oil & pan instead of the deep fryer with all the other items. We gave the other boys enzymes and let them order “regular food”. Anyway they did great. We got the boys flashing cups and at the end we all shared a VOLCANO!!! It’s a base of ice cream with wedge of brownie stood up to form a volcano around the ice cream. Then it’s topped with whipped cream and a sparkler! Chase not liking sweets again was a big benefit in this area. He thought the volcano was cool but was content eating his french fries. Oh and a man making balloon animals came by our table and made stuff for the boys!!!

After dinner we shopped some more. I got a cardigan and lip gloss at the gap, some clear yellow jellies at Saks off 5th, and some nightgown cheap at Penny’s. We hoped to find some good deals for Aiden but didn’t see much of anything for a good price.

After the mall we went to the hotel. We used hotwire to book it, Neil’s parents treated us all. The hotel was VERY NICE. The boys were SUPER EXCITED!!! They love going out of town and staying in hotels. This is their second time so it’s just a really cool treat for them. We got all checked in and settled. Amy bathed the boys while Neil and I went and had a drink at the bar. I had my first raspberry mojito and my oh my was it GOOD. Completely killed my headache I obtained at the Rainforrest Cafe. LOL!!!

Tuesday we all got up and got ready. We headed over to Ikea for breakfast and shopping. We shopped till we dropped literally. The boys did amazing considering we were there over 4 hours. Chase actually fell asleep in a cart. We got SOOOOOO MANY cool goodies for the house. Mindy gave us some spending money too and we were able to get this AWESOME storage unit, well not just one but 2, for the boys room. Its tall and holds all these containers. ITS SO COOL!!!! Their room is UBER organized now. We got lots and lots of other stuff. A few things for the kids, a rocking toy for Graysen, tons of stuff for the bathroom and bedroom redo.

After Ikea the boys wanted to eat Burger King and they deserved it. While they played Mindy, Amy, and I went to Sam Moon and shopped. Mindy got a really cool purple purse that Amy and I both loved. I got a killer deep red purse, and patent faux alligator hard wallet. It’s tan and yummy! I pet my purse all the way home.

On the way home we drove through snow most of the way. Thankfully the roads weren’t icy just wet.

So now we are home and Neil is still off. We went to a baskeball game New Years eve. It was Alex’s first sporting event and he totally dug it. He’s now saying he will be a basketball player when he grows up.

In the midst of everything we are doing a redo to our bedroom and bathroom, and doing a little work on Chase’s room. Our bedroom we are stripping wallpaper off the back wall, texturing it to look like the other walls and then painting everything. Our bathroom we stripped all the wallpaper off, are texturing and painting the walls and cabinets. We got all new hardware, a new mirror, towel bars, even a new toilet paper holder, the WHOLE 9!!!! In Chase’s room he has some built in shelves in the middle of one of his walls. They are really shallow for like knick nacks. We closed it up, and textured it to blend with the wall, and are painting his room a very very light creamy yellow color. It’s grass green right now.

Aaaaanyway it’s a biiiiiig set of projects but it’s all coming together finally. Tim Gunkel came over and showed us how to use the texture gun and hopper. He’s awesome! It was pretty easy! Intimidating looking but when you have someone experienced it makes it easier!!! YAY!!!

Well the kids are hungry so I better run… HOPE EVERYONE HAS A WONDERFUL YEAR!!!!!!